Efficacy and safety of preoperative lobar or segmental ablation via transarterial administration of ethiodol and ethanol mixture for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical study

World J Surg. 2000 Jul;24(7):844-50; discussion 850. doi: 10.1007/s002680010135.

Abstract

Transarterial embolization (TAE) using various thrombotic substances for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) performed on many patients has resulted in a better survival rate. We evaluated the efficacy and clinical safety of using an Ethiodol-ethanol mixture as the embolizer for treatment of HCC and the possibility of a surgical approach for inoperable tumors after TAE. Twenty patients with HCC who underwent TAE and tumor resection were included in the study. Initially, eight had increased retention rate of indocyanine green dye via intravenous injection (0.5 mg/kg) at 15 minutes (ICGR15), and six had an insufficient residual volume that precluded them from undergoing tumor resection. TAE was performed by slowly infusing the mixture of Ethiodol and ethanol into the artery supplying the tumor until dual hepatic artery and portal vein embolization was achieved. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase increased after embolization, but all biochemistry studies reverted to normal within 2 weeks. A decreased tumor size (n = 15), improved ICG (n = 8), and increased volume of the nonembolized lobe (n = 10) were noted. The operations performed were right lobectomy (n = 11), extended right lobectomy (n = 3), left lobectomy (n = 2), extended left lobectomy (n = 2), and wedge resection (n = 2), which included patients who did not want to undergo major hepatectomy. Complete tumor necrosis was found in seven cases. All patients survived with no associated complications. The 1-year survival rate was 95%. Transarterial Ethiodol and ethanol administration creating dual hepatic artery and portal vein embolization was a safe and efficacious method for treating HCC. It effectively decreases tumor size, causes compensatory hepatic hypertrophy, and improves the ICGR15, which allows a wider range of patients to undergo liver surgery and achieve better survival.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / blood supply
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy*
  • Chemoembolization, Therapeutic*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Electrocoagulation*
  • Ethanol / administration & dosage*
  • Ethiodized Oil / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Hepatectomy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Iliac Artery
  • Injections, Intra-Arterial
  • Liver Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Liver Neoplasms / mortality
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Mesenteric Artery, Superior
  • Middle Aged
  • Preoperative Care / methods
  • Preoperative Care / standards
  • Safety
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Ethanol
  • Ethiodized Oil